Machine for making collapsible and expansible tubes



May 23, 1950 s. D. POLSEN ETAL MACHINE FOR MAKING COLLAPSIBLE AND EXPANSIBLE TUBES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1945 INVENTOR. 53771145) [2 Poker.

.J'ren H NeLson BY Arm/may May 23, 1950 Filed Oct. 18, 194 5 S. D. P MACHINE FOR MA OLSEN ETAL AND EXPANSIBLE TUBES KING COLLAPSIBLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. Samuel .0 Pol-Sen Sven H Nelao y Patented May 23, 1950 TFOB .MAKING COLLAPSIBEE AND EXPANSIBIZE TUBES ssamuel D. Tolsen and :Sven Hex-bent iNelson, ."Brid'gepmft, Gonm, assignors :OfcOIIQ-fOM-th :to Blanche .H. ..-Polsen, one founth 4:0 Mildred 1?. .Nelsomnne-fourth to saidssvenflerhertNelson, and one-fourth .to Norman .Hubbell INlson, all

of Bridgeport, LConn.

aipplieaitionflctober 18, I945,:'S-erialNo.:fi22-,*970

15 Claims.

This :lnventicnzrelates to new and usefulimprovements in creasing .nr :iolding :mechanisms .andihas particularmelation to ameans torzmaking collapsible or bellows-like tubes.

Flhe .objects advantages of the invention become apparent from .a consideration f the .-following :detailed-description taken in -.conmection rtheaceompanying draw-ings wherein satisfactory embodiments .of the invention .are shown. However, .it date he understood ithatrthe invention is :not ,l-imited to the details disclosed :but includes all-such variationsandsmodifications ms fiall within thespirit of the .zinventionand the scope of the appended claims.

In theflrawings:

.Eig. 1 is ',a itop planview-.of-a mechanism made according to .the invention;

Fig. 2 is aside eelevationalview thereof;

Fig. :3 is a vertical (transverse sectional view :taken as salong the lined-i3 of Fig. 1

the-right in Fig. 2 but with the entrance .device removed;

.Fig. :5 is an-endvelevationalviewof the entrance :device; I a

6 .is .a longitudinal sectional view, .on a somewhat larger .scale, through .a short length @of tube made .on the present mechanism;

.Fig. 7 is .a .plan view of zafmodified iconstnuction;

.inFigs-l through 5 willsfirsthe described. such means, generally designated .tl, comprise .a casting including .a back wall 12 of elongated rectangularishape and fromthe corner portions of one side of which extend ifour post-like projections 13,14, 4 5. and El 6. Additionally, .at .the inner vendtof the wall II the mentioned casting includes Fig. 4 is an end elevational viewlookingefrom .Fig. -.8 is a Jongitudinal sectional view through the device of Fig. 3,;

Fig. 9 is a transverse :sectional view :asron the plane'of the .-line .9-8 of Fig. 8 .and

Eng. .10 :is a rear elevational view of .a portion 'LQf the device with the-drive pulley removed.

The present devicemr machine comprises means .-:for iconverting a strip of oaner nr other material into an expanslble and collapsible bellows-like tube. .Arshortsectionnfsueha .tube is illustrated ,Fig. .6 :and :is generally :desigrnited 40. I he means of the mvention isof simple andiineiqien- .sive construction is adapted .fnr continuous eparation, -.the idea being that a .ztube would .be termed .of indefinite slength, depending on the .lengthof .the strip ithat'is .being fed to :the means, and that the recruited lengths-for any .narticular ipurpose would be rout ;-from the iormed tube. .Herein, we have .-not.disclosed any :means .for cutsting the tube toat'he desired length --but it will be understood that in practise as .theareauired length 1a .pro-jecting .plate-like extension 11.

A pair ofscrews all! -.or any-.othersuitable means serves to secure an entrance device I9 .onto the rforward side of the extension 1] :Ifhis entrance (device comprises a .combined preliminary. forming means and guidegfor the paper strip .being fed to the present means and in'th edrawingthe strip .is shown in dotted lines :and designated '20. Entrance device 5L9 comprises .a body .portion .2 I .providedinits {upper side withacavity 22 open- .ing thmughsuchsides. This cavity,-=as suggested .-in Fig. 2, is quite shallow at the entrance end 123 of the device .and gradually increases .in depth towards the (discharge end 24 .at which end the cavity is :more or less in .the I-fonm of .the ,letter w. as shown in :Eig. 5,. r

Disposednn the .upnerside .of .bodyz l is a late -25 including ,a, ;pair of depending portions 25 shaped to enter the cavity 22. zscrews orsimilar nneans 21 secure plate 15.120 loody 21 and the .relation of the parts is such that the depending ,por- *tions #26 do .not engage the wallsof ithecavity 22 .so that .apneliminary .formingslot or 1passage=28 is provided through :thedevlce 4.9 :in -the.f0rm+of the .letter W .at :the discharge end of said device 1.9 and the paper strip or the like 2!) being .fed through such passage ,is forced to .takerthe same shapeas that of the-passage.

A -.pla;te .29.is secured on the outerendsof .the posts .13 through 46 as by screws .30 and dowel pins 3.6a. Thisplate, together withthe rear wall all! of the main casting, provides means for rotatably mounting the respective end portions of a series :of shafts as will .appearzand in addition -,the:p1ate.-for=ms.a measure of protection or-guard means to partially enclose devices mounted on :said shafts.

-In its -rear side wall ..l.2 is provided with an annular cavity -31 providing ia bearing fitting an internal ring gear 32 formed integral with and extendingdnward-ly from 2a pulley 33 which may be provided with a groove 34 to receive a v- ;shaped driving belt. Aring 35,1held-in place by --.;screws .36, overlaps :anannular flange -31 on-the pulley 3-3-and-serves (to mount the pulley and the internal Ting gear on the wall 1-2 for turning movement. The :ring gear 32 meshes with and ztmtms zhave much-in common, the means :shown :serves to drive aseniesof pinians.

' drive the same and thus the roller 88 and in addition gear 50 drives gear 52 resulting in the driving 3 Pinions 3-8, 39, 40, M and 42 are mounted respectively on shafts 43, 44, 45, 46 and 41, journaled in and extending between the wall l2 and the plate 29. It is noted that the gears 38 through 42 are located at the outer side of the wall l2 and within a skirt-like portion of the pulley 33,

6| through 65 are of the general construction of the rollers 58 and 59 above described and their outer edge portions interfit with the threads of the screw 66; These rollers, 61 through 55, are

which skirt-like portion comprises the internal ring gear 32 with which the pinions mesh.

In its forward or inner face wall I2 is provided with a recess or cavity 48 and within such cavity a pinion 49 is made fast to the shaft 44 and such pinion meshes with a relatively large gear 50 fixed on a shaft 5|, also journaled in wall l2 and plate 29, and which large gear in turn meshes, with a small gear or pinion 52. On the shaft 5|, between wall l2 and plate 29, is a glue or also of rubber or other compressible or yieldable material and their relation to the screw 936 is such that the paper being formed when received between such rollers and screw is pressed tight against the latter by the former.

Screw 6B is shown as being provided with a threaded stud 61 passing through the wall 2 of the main casting in concentric relation with the various shafts 43 through 41. A nut 58 is threaded to the stud 61 and thereby serves to adhesive applying roller 88 operating partly in an adhesive receptacle 89 and adapted to apply adhesive from said receptacle to the paper strip as will later appear. Alternatively the roller 88 may apply moisture or heat to a pro-glued edge portion of the strip to render such portion adhesive. Pinion 52 meshes with pinion 53, in turn meshing with a pinion 54 and such pinions 52, 53, and 54, are mounted on shafts 55, 56 and 51, each iournaled in the wall l2 and plat 29.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that as the pulley 33 is driven, the gear 39 will be rotated and will serve to drive shaft 44 and thus gear The latter meshing with gear 59 serves to of gears 53 and 54, the latter being rotated from the former.

Shafts 56 and 51 are located respectively below and above the outlet or discharge end of the preliminary forming slot 28. Mounted fast on the shaft 56 is a roller 58 and mounted fast on the shaft 51 is a roller 59. Roller 58 is bevelled at its outer end and intermediat its ends is pro- I vided with a pair of annular grooves, each V- shaped in transverse section. Roller 59 is bevelled on its outer ends and intermediate such ends is provided with a single annular groove, also V- shaped in transverse section. Thus, the construction of roller 58 is substantially that of three bevelled discs while the construction of roller 59 is that of two bevelled discs.

The relationship of the centers of the shafts 56 and 51 to the diameter of the rollers 58 and 59 is such that the bevelled edges or the disclike portions of roller 59 interfit with or overlap with those of roller 58 whereby the pair of rollers define between them a slot 60 in the form of the letter W and corresponding with the slot 28 above mentioned. Rollers 58 and 59 are preferably of some resilient or yielding material and are so located that they receive between them in the mentioned W-shaped slot en the preliminarily formed paper strip discharged from the entrance device 59. Since when the pulley 33 is being driven the rollers 58 and 59 are also being driven they serve to draw the paper strip through the entrance device l9. From the rollers 58 and 59 the paper trip now somewhat in the form of the letter N is fed across the receptacle 89 and the- V roller 88 operating insaid receptacle applies adhesive moisture or heat to an edge portion of the strip. 7

The shafts 43, 4'4, 45, 45 and 4! have rollers GI, 62, B3, 64 and 55 fast thereon and such rollers are grouped in equally spaced relation about. a stationary screw 68 whose outside diameter corresponds with the inside diameter of the collapsible and expansible tube to be formed. Rollers hold the screw 66 drawn against the inner side of the wall l2 and against movement relative to said wall. If desired, pulley 33 may have a flange 69 riding on the intermediate portion of the nut 68 to assist in the steadying of the motion of the pulley. Screw 66 enters partly into an opening 19 in the plate '29 and which opening is coneter than the latter.

the lower edge portion of the arm 13.

- it enters between the upper side of the screw 66 and the roller 6l.- The latter presses the already partly formed strip into the threads of the screw and feeds the strip over the screw to the roller 65 and the latter continues to press the stri into the threads of the screw and feeds the strip to the roller 64 which functions to pass the strip to the roller 63 while the-latter feeds the strip to the roller 62.

As the strip is being fed by these rollers it is forced along the screw 66 because of the pitch of the threads of the latter and as the strip makes one turn about the screw and begins its 7 second turn the glued inner surface of the arm l3 of one portion of the strip is brought over the outer surface of the arm 1] of the next adjacent turn of the strip about the screw and thereafter each turn of the strip is similarly treated and the rollers press the parts together at the adhesively connected joint.

The described operation continues and as it continues the strip advances along the screw 86 and is fed out over the end of the screw through the opening 19 as at 14. Just as the strip leaves the screw, a cutter (not shown) may be mounted 1 to severthe formed tube into the desired lengths. These lengths may be readily collapsed into very short tubes since the various rollers have sharply creased the paper and any section of the tube may be collapsed and expanded somewhat in the manner of the collapse and expansion of a bellows or an accordion. Once the strip has been started through the machine there is no reason to stop operations unless or until the end of the strip is reached and thus the means of the i'nvention is adapted by continuous operation for the production of a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube of paper or other material;-

Referring now to the modification of Figs. '1, 8, 9 and 10, the means there shown is somewhat similar to that alreadydescribed and differs therefrom essentially in that while in Figs. 1

through 5 the rollers 58 and 59serve to push the In the modification a screw TS is associated with rollers 61,82, 63, 64 and '55 and such screw is of the desired diameter and serves the purpose of the screw 56 above described. A pair of small screws or the like '1! passing through the back wall "I2 serves to rigidly mount the screw 15 and the latter is disposed with its free end opposite an opening 18 corresponding with it for the purpose of the opening described in connection with Figs '1 through 5.

Screw 16 towards its inner end is cut out or cut away to provide a pair of recesses l9 and iii) receiving, respectively, short rollers 8| and 82 fast on shafts 83 and 8d respectively. At their respective ends such shafts are journaled in the wall 12 and the body of screw 16 (see Fig. 9) and such shafts are parallel with the shafts '43 through 41. At the outer side of wall l2 gears 85 and 86 are fast to the shafts 83 and 84 respectively and such gears mesh with the gears 3B and 40 respectively:

With this construction it will be seen that as the rollers grouped about the screw 16 are rotated (through pulley 33 and internal ring gear 82) the rollers 8i and 82 will also be rotated and will rotate in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rollers SI and 63 respectively. Rollers Bi and 82 are of steel or other unyielding material and have close interlocking i'lts with the rollers Bi and 63 respectively. Thus, as the paper strip comes between the rollers 61 and 8| the strip is sharply creased and is pulled along over the adhesive moisture or heat applying roller 88.

When the strip is moved about the screw 15 it is similarly treated between the rollers 53 and 82. Since these pairs of rollers characterize the modified construction or relatively close relation, it will be understood that the paper is sharply creased between them and further because of their direction of movement the paper is pulled along through the device by the char acterizing pairs of rollers. As the strip is car rled about the screw 15 it is fed along the same depending on the thread pitch in the latter and as the tube is formed it passes out through the opening 78 over the free end of the screw. The

tube may be cut to lengths and the lengths colilapsed as suggested in connection with Figs. 1 through 5. Since in the modification the strip is pulled along about the screw 16 it is noted that the feeding rollers 58 and 59 of Figs. 1 through 5 have been omitted from the modification.

' Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a mechanism for forming a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube from a strip of paper or the like, a body and an entrance device having at least three angularly related channels communicating at their longitudinal edges and of gradually increasing depth toward said 'body, ieeding rollers within said body and receiving a strip of material passing inwardly through said entrance, one of said rollers comprising a "body having at least two V-shaped grooves and this other roller comprising a body having a 'sectionally 'v-shaped edge entering partly into each V gr'oove "of the first roller whereby said rollers grip the strip and draw it through said entrance device, a relatively large diameter screw inwardly of and parallel with said *feed rollers, other rollers including V-shaped portions entering into the threads of said screw at spaced points about the same, a pulley, a driving connection between said pulley and each of the last mentioned rollers whereby to have the latter press the strip into the threads of the screw and feed the strip along the threads of the screw, and means driving the feed rollers from said pulley.

2. In a mechanism ior forming a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube from a strip of paper or the like, .a screw of an outside diameter corresponding with an inside diameter of the tube desired, means providing an entrance slot'h'aving angularly related walls for preliminarily forming and creasing a strip, rotatable means associated with said screw for pressing said prelimi- .nar'ily formed strip about said screw and into the threads thereof to further crease said strip, and said screw stationary and said means press- .ing the strip against the threads of the screw and having driving engagement with the strip whereby to continuously feed the strip along the threads of the screw.

3. In a mechanism for forming a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube :from a strip of paper or the like, a screw of an outside diameter corresponding with an inside diameter of the tube desired, means providing an entrance slot having angularly related walls iorpreliminarily forming and creasing astrip. rotatable means associated with said screw for pressing said preliminarily formedstrip about said screw and into the threads thereof with portions of each turn of the strip about the screw overlapping a portion of the preceding turn of the strip about the screw, means for rendering one of said strip portions adhesive the strip approaches said screw, and said screw stationary and said means pressing the strip against the threads of the screw and having driving engagement with the strip whereby .to continuously feed the strip along the threads of the screw.

4.. In a mechanism for forming .a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube from a strip of paper or the like, .a stationary screw of an out side diameter corresponding with an inside diameter of the tube desired, means providing an entrance slot having angularly related walls for preliminarily forming and creasing a strip, a pair of oppositely turning rollers at the discharge end of said slot for drawing the strip through the slot entrance slot having angularly related walls for..

preliminarily forming and creasing a strip, apair of oppositely turning rollers at the discharge end of said slot for drawing the strip through the slot and .feeding it toward said screw, means associated with said screw for pressing said prelimi- -narily formed strip about said screw and into and alon the threads thereof with portions of each turn of said strip about the screw overlapping a portion of the preceding turn of the strip about the screw, and means at a place between said op- .positely turning rollers and said screw for rendering one of said strip portions adhesive.

6. In a mechanism for forming a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube from a strip of paper or the like, a stationary screw of an outside diameter corresponding with an inside diameter of the tube desired, means providin an entrance slot having angularly related walls for preliminarily forming and creasing a strip, means associated with said screw for pressing said preliminarily formed strip about said screw and into and along the threads thereof, said last means including a pair of rollers of yieldable material spaced about said screw and including portions against said rollers of unyieldable material whereby as the strip is fed it is sharply creased. '7. In a mechanism for forming a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube from a strip of paper or the like, a stationary screw of an outside diameter corresponding with an inside diameter of the tube desired, means providing an entrance slot having angularly related walls for preliminarily forming and creasing a strip, means associated with said screw for pressing said preliminarily formed strip about said screw and into and alon the threads thereof and mean for pulling said strip about the screw and sharply creasing the strip, said last means including pairs of rollers including interfitting portions adapted to press portions of the strip tightly between them, one of said rollers of each of said pairs recessed into said screw, and means for driving the rollers of the respective pairs in opposite directions but the corresponding rollers of all pairs having at least two V-shaped grooves and this other roller comprising a body having a sectionally V-shaped edge entering partly into each mentioned V-groove of the first roller whereby .said rollers grip the strip and draw it through said entrance device, a relatively large diameter screw inwardly of and parallel with said feed rollers, other rollers including ii-shaped portions -entering into the threads of said screw at spaced jjoints about the same, a pulley, and a driving connection between saidpulley and each of the last mentioned rollers whereby to have the latter press the strip into the threads of the screw and feed the strip along the threads of the screw.

9. In a mechanism for forming a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube from a strip of paper or the like, a stationary frame, a screw of an outside diameter corresponding with an inside diameter of the tube desired, means mounting said screw in fixed position and against turning movement in said frame, a series of rotatable shafts mounted against bodily movement in said frame and radially about said screw and in parallel relation therewith, rollers on said shafts and turnable therewith, said rollers ofdiameters whereby their peripheries enter the threads of said screw, driving means for continuously rotating said shafts in the same direction and thus for continuously rotating said rollers in the same direction whereby the peripheral portions of the strip about the screw.

10. In a mechanism for forming a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube from a strip of paper or the like, a stationary frame, a screw of an outside diameter corresponding with an inside diameter of the tube desired, means mounting said screw in fixed position and against turning movement in said frame, a series of rotatable shafts mounted against bodily movement in said frame and radially about said screw and in parallel relation therewith, rollers on said shafts and turnable therewith, said rollers of diameters whereby their peripheries enter the threads of said screw, driving means for continuously rotating said shafts in the same direction and thus for continuously rotating said rollers in the same direction whereby the peripheral portions of the latter entering the threads of the screw engage and press said strip against the walls of the threads of the screw and crease said strip and feed it along the screw with edge portions of each turn of the strip about the screw overlapping an edge portion of the preceding turn of the strip about the screw, and means in said frame in advance of said rollers and screw for rendering one of said strip edge portions adhesive a the strip approaches the screw whereby such overlapping edge portions are adhered as they are pressed together against the threads of the screw.

11. The mechanism as in claim 9 wherein said rollers are of a resilient material. v l

12. In a mechanism for forming a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube from a strip of paper or the like, a stationary screw of an outside diameter corresponding with an inside diameter of the tube desired, means associated with said screw for pressing a strip about said screw and into and along the threads thereof, said last -means including a pair of rollers of yieldable masame direction but in a direction opposite to that in which the rollers of yielding material are driven, and said rollers of yieldable material pressing tightly against said rollers of unyieldable material whereby as the strip is fed it is sharply creased.

13. In a mechanism for forming a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube from a stri of paper or the like, a stationary screw of an outside diameter corresponding with an inside diameter of the tube desired, means associated with said screw for pressing a strip about said screw and into and along the threads thereof and mean for pulling said strip about the screw and sharply creasing the strip, said last meansincluding pairs of rollers including interfitting portions adapted to press portions of the trip tightly between them, one of said rollers of each of said pairs recessed into said screw, and means for driving the rollers of the respective pairs in opposite directions but the corresponding rollers of all pairs in the same direction.

14. In a continuously operating mechanism for forming a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube of paper or the like, a stationary frame, a screw of an outside diameter corresponding with an inside diameter of the tube desired, means mounting said screw against turning and against bodily movement in said frame, a plurality of rollers radially about said screw and having their axes in parallel relation with one another and with the axis of said screw, said rollers so located with respect to said screw and of such size that the peripherial portions of the rollers extend into and substantially completely fill the valleys between adjacent threads of the screw to crowd the strip to be formed against the sides of the threads of the screw and sharply crease such strip longitudinally, means mounting said rollers in fixed positions against bodily movement in said frame, and means for rotating each of said rollers continuously in the same direction about its own axis to press the strip into the threads of the screw and longitudinally crease the strip and feed it about and along the screw and over one end of the latter with a longitudinal edge portion of one turn of the strip about the screw overlapping a longitudinal edge portion of the preceding turn of the strip about the screw.

15. In a continuously operating mechanism for forming a collapsible and expansible bellows-like tube of paper or the like, a stationary frame, a screw of an outside diameter corresponding with an inside diameter of the tube desired, means mounting said screw against bodily movement in said frame, a plurality of roller radially about said screw and having their axes in parallel relation with one another and with the axis of said screw, said rollers so located with respect to said screw and of such size that the peripheral portions of the rollers extend into and substantially completely fill the valleys between adjacent threads of the screw to crowd the strip to be formed against the sides of the threads of the screw and sharply crease such strip longitudinally, means mounting said rollers in said frame and against bodily movement relative thereto, and means for continuously rotating one of said screw and said plurality of rollers continuously in the same direction about its own axis to press the strip into the threads of the screw and longitudinally crease the strip and feed it about and along the screw and over one end of the latter with a longitudinal edge portion of one turn of the strip about the screw overlapping a longitudinal edge portion of the preceding turn of the strip about the screw.

SAMUEL D. POLSEN. SVEN HERBERT NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,410,160 Brinkman Mar. 21, 1922 1,492,067 Brinkman Apr. 29, 1924 2,158,796 Harrah May 16, 1939 2,880,111 Kasten July 10, 1945 

